Bianca > Recent Status Updates

Love when the villain hits the “worst guy you know makes a point” part:

“You see, the hate they give is senseless. They already got power. Yet they hate those over who they got control, who don’t really pose a threat to them. Their fears aren’t real—just insecurities and inadequacies. Deep down they know that. Makes their hate like … watered-down whiskey.!”

Butcher Clyde will roast.

The title is very fitting as Moggach turned to the pond in a desperate need for solitude from the chaos of motherhood. She found this solitude as she became one with nature, surrounded by its wildness and diving into the freedom that it provides. I think it's probably the most simplistic so far but you can tell that she was greatly inspired by these trips, especially from the interactions she saw in the Mixed Pond.

I didn’t realize the revelation came so early in the book. That makes me more excited to see what happens in the rest of the book.

In Like A Rat, Goldstone is in quite a mess. In a way, it’s a tale of being young and reckless and alive but also quite sad with wanting. The comparison to herself as a rat was well done: eating food out of the garbage, running around at the night, and noticed by passive-aggressive neighbors. The inclusion of the abortion and the tiredness that clung to her in the normality of life that day was touching.

The way I always have something to say about the book I’m reading but I have nothing to say about this so far.

In The First, Davies returns to her lifelong of swimming for the first time in years in the wake of a major breakup. Struggling with body image issues, she travels from her home to the Pond, where she meets a friend and together, they sink into the pond. Overall, I enjoyed the thoughts in parentheses sprinkled throughout though I do think this may be the most lacking essay since the first two in Winter.

Wortle is fighting for his life.

There’s not enough conflict coming from his side, I feel.

The ninth essay Landmarks was rather miserable in tone as the writer both craved to be desired by those around her but also felt uncomfortable. She searched for bodies of water anywhere she went to dive in, to experience even a bit of joy as she struggled to give into pleasure. There were many beautiful sentences in this essay, and the footnotes were well placed.

Yeah. I'm going to have to sleep on that before I write a single thought.

I’m enjoying this book well enough especially now that Edward’s secret is out but this scene is reminding me just how much Robert is still my favorite leading man in the series.

Echolocation was rather fascinating with a comparison of the writer to a bat as she navigated immigration, Brexit, the messiness of her cosmopolitan immigrant life. The lack of proximity to the Pond except when she had to scurry past it with no time and so many worries as if she was always passing by like a tourist rather than a resident.

The Lifeguard's Perspective had some of the most beautiful lines featured in the collection so far. Told from the perspective of a lifeguard, it also provided readers with a different look at the pond. I think Frizzell choosing this period of her experience at the lake was a great decision. I greatly enjoyed the descriptions from above as swimmers of all kind both loved and feared the water at times.

Well. That was probably the least romantic sex scene I’ve ever read.

I’m enjoying this well enough but it does make me think back on Part of Your World, which was a 5 star for me when I read it a few years back while stuck in bed with a terrible bout of COVID. I wonder if I reread it now if I would still feel the same.

Jacob’s POV is hitting a bit too close to home.